From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Kano State Government has approved over N637 million and released N500 million in counterpart funding under the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF).
This was contained in a statement by Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria CS-SUNN and made available to the media in Kaduna today.
The statement stated that the fund is a critical step toward scaling up sustainable financing, programs, and supplies to combat malnutrition in the state.
The CNF, the statement added, is designed to support countries with high child malnutrition rates, matches government investments to accelerate the prevention, detection, and treatment of manifestations of malnutrition.
Kano state mirrors Nigeria’s national malnutrition challenges, with 51.9% of children under five stunted, 38.4% underweight, and 10.4% suffering from wasting, according to the 2023-24 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS).
These alarming figures represent lives affected by malnutrition and its related conditions that hinder growth, weaken immunity, and reduce productivity later in adulthood.
Through CNF- the state can increase its stock of essential nutrition commodities like Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), Micronutrient Powder (MNP), Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) and others required to treat, manage and prevent malnutrition by 100%.Advocacy efforts by CS-SUNN in collaboration with partners like Alive & Thrive, UNICEF and others played a role in this achievement.
Engaging key government officials, including the Kano State Head of Service, Commissioner of Health, Commissioner of Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, among others emphasized the need for the state’s support in establishing Nutrition Departments across relevant MDAs, extending paid maternity leave from three to six months and timely approval and release of the CNF.
Media roundtables amplified these efforts, increasing visibility and galvanizing support for the approval and release of the CNF and other nutrition interventions.
Advocacy visits to traditional leaders, including the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammadu Sanusi II, further underscored the need for action.
CS-SUNN’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo-led a delegation of nutrition partners (Alive and Thrive, UNICEF among others) and some Kano State delegates; Habib Umar Kankarofi (Chief Planning Officer, Ministry of Budget and Planning) and Dalhatu Danladi (Assistant Chief Planning Officer of the same ministry) to the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammadu Sanusi II.
He noted that with over 50% of children stunted (from the recent 2023/24 National Health Demographic Survey (NDHS), Kano is home to 3.4 million children under five, of whom 350,000 are wasted.
Alarmingly, one in every two women in the state suffers from anaemia. Mr. Okoronkwo however commended the state government for its efforts in addressing malnutrition but emphasized the need for increased and timely release of funds to effectively tackle the growing burden of malnutrition and support the implementation of the state’s costed Food and Nutrition Strategy.
The advocacy team requested tha the Emir leverage his influence to contribute to unlocking critical funding and catalyzing action from key decision-makers for improved nutrition, including the release of the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF).
In his response, His Royal Highness emphasized the critical importance of prioritizing nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. He pointed out that efforts are falling short at the most vital stages—before conception, at birth, and during breastfeeding and highlighted the need for focused action in these phases.
Drawing from his experience as the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Emir recounted his advocacy for six months of maternity leave to support exclusive breastfeeding.
While deemed too expensive at the time, he reflected on how the COVID-19 pandemic proved that flexible work arrangements were more cost-effective even at the highest levels.
The Emir demonstrated deep concern for the well-being of women and children in Kano, emphasizing his commitment to contribute to tackling the state’s malnutrition crisis.
As the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and the Nutrition Council, he expressed his resolve to advocate to key stakeholders—commissioners of finance, budget, health, and the Secretary to the Kano State Government—urging them to prioritize nutrition.
As a custodian of his people, the Emir underscored the urgency of addressing malnutrition, describing it as a moral duty to safeguard the future of Kano’s children and empower its women to thrive.
With coordinated efforts across sectors and the continued leadership of key stakeholders, Kano has an opportunity to transform its nutrition landscape.
Aligning traditional authority with government action ensures a collaborative approach to breaking the cycle of malnutrition and giving every child a chance to thrive. The approval and release of the CNF counterpart fund signal a new chapter of hope and progress for Kano’s children.
